Hands-on: Gmail 2.0 for iOS is more Google-Plus-ified than ever (Updated)

Aside from the UI, multiple account support is the best new feature.

Google completely redesigned its Gmail app for iOS, releasing the 2.0 version to users through the App Store on Tuesday afternoon. And although the feature list may not be lengthy, the ones that were added have so far been met with great jubilation from regular Gmail users. In addition to being Google-Plus-ified in the UI (which may or may not be a good thing, depending on how you feel about Google+), the app has gained a number of very practical features. These may tempt users of Mail—or even Sparrow—away from their apps of choice.

I decided to take the Gmail 2.0 app for a spin after its release (which is apparently still making its way through the App Store for some users). As noted above, the first thing I noticed was how much the interface has been redone to more closely resemble the redesigned Google+ app released earlier this year. The fonts now match between the apps, and Google uses a clean—but appropriately colorful—layout to draw the eye to the appropriate buttons and avatars. Lots of avatars. Everywhere Google can fit them in.

By tapping on the list button at the top left, you can see the various categories you would normally find when browsing Gmail on the Web. Tapping the down arrow from this view exposes the multiple account view, which is new in this version of the app:

If I had an avatar set on my second account, it would be there.

Once you add more than one account, you can switch between them from this screen easily without having to log in or out every time. This is a great addition to the app. However, users are already pointing out that there's no unified inbox (if you're into that kind of thing, which I'm not).

The other major addition, which doesn't seem that exciting on its face, is the ability to attach photos or hand-drawn scribbles to your e-mails,. This wasn't previously possible under the old Gmail app, which is why its addition is notable. (Update: I was wrong, this was in the previous version of the Gmail app.)

Avatars even show up when you add friends to your "to" list.

The scribble feature is amusing, and I'm sure there are people out there who will see some value in it (perhaps for very quick idea sketches). Personally, I don't see myself using it much in the future. For those wondering, the recipient receives scribbles as a .png file attachment.

My favorite feature is the ability to respond to Google Calendar invites directly from within the app. Again, this wasn't possible previously (or at least wasn't as easy to do), so it's a welcome addition to the 2.0 version of the app:

Yes, I would like to attend the "OMG a Scorpion!" event.

There are a number of other actions you can perform from the new UI, too. When you select an individual message, you can tap the arrow icon at the bottom to get access to more options, like the ability to add a label, move it to a folder, mute the whole conversation, mark as read/unread, or report as spam:

Tap the arrow at the bottom to see more options for your e-mail.

This is in addition to the infinite scrolling abilities added to the main inbox view (again, a small but useful addition). And if you use Google+, the ability to add +1 to posts from within the Gmail app.

The update is simple, but in a good way. Google knows the key to a good mobile mail app is to offer enough functionality to not infuriate users, but not so much that it's confusing to navigate on a tiny phone screen. This update applies to Gmail for the iPhone/iPod touch in addition to the iPad, so although I did the majority of my testing on an iPhone, these updates will also apply to the bigger screen:

The iPad version looks just like the iPhone version, but, well, bigger and iPad-ified.

As someone who flip-flopped between Mail and the old Gmail app for my non-work accounts, I like what I see with the 2.0 update. I can see myself using it more than Mail for my Gmail account(s) now that I can more easily switch between accounts. Overall, I really like it. But as mentioned earlier, the addition of a unified inbox would undoubtedly please many users, and I've begun seeing complaints that the app should be able to integrate groups that you've set in your iOS contacts (which can be imported into the app). Are there any other requests you have for Santa Google for the next version?